Paediatrics » Fetal and neonatal medicine

The premature infant

Prematurity denotes preterm delivery before the 37th week of pregnancy. Most premature infants weigh less than 2500 g, which has also been considered a criterion for prematurity. Premature infants may be small for gestational age, normal or large, as all other neonates. A very low birth weight infant denotes an infant weighing less than 1500 g. Most problems occur in infants weighing less than 1000g . The growth is almost invariably retarded in very premature infants because of suboptimal conditions after birth. As soon as nutrition is adequate a catch-up growth starts both in these infants and in infants with intrauterine growth disturbance (small for date). Infants weighing more than 1800 g at birth grow well on a diet similar to that of full-term infants. Special arrangements are necessary for very low birth weight infants. Special vitamin preparations containing vitamins A, B12, E, and folic acid are available for premature infants. The need for vitamins depends on the type of milk or milk formula. To ensure adequate nutrition, very premature children, particularly those weighing less than 1000 g at birth may require additional food at 3 - 3.5 months. During the first year of life, premature infants need more medical services than full-term infants. The smaller the child the more care is needed.

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